Tumbler type clothes washing machine having squeeze bar therein



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f7 7 TOFNEYS.

G. E. EHRLING Dec. 2, 1947.

TUMBLER TYPE coTHEs WASHING MACHINEHAVING sQuEEzE `:mz THEREIN Filed 061;. 25. 1945 Dec. 2, 1947. G. E. EHRLING 2,431,925

TUMBLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING SQ'JEEZE EAR THEREIN Filed Oct. 25, i943 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1947. G. E. EHRLING 2,431,925

TUMBLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING SQUEEZE BAR THEREIN Filed Oct. 25, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES TUM'BLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MA- CHINE HAVING SQUEEZE BAR THEREIN Gunnar E. Ehrling, D

etrot, Mich., assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 25, 1943,

9 Claims.

This invention pertains to washing machines and particularly to a new and novel type of washing machine wherein the continuous rotation of a rotor produces periodic tumbling and squeezing of the clothes as the speed of rotation of an accompanying squeeze bar is relatively varied.

In the copending application of A. H. Haberstump, which issued into Patent No. 2,354,208 on July 25, 1944, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a washing machine of a similar type is disclosed. In the application, the machine tumbles and squeezes the clothes in the same manner as in the present machine. The oscillating action between the squeeze bar and the shoulder of the rotor is affected through the oscillation of the rotor to squeeze'the clothes against the elastic resistance of the squeeze bar, which permits limited movement under increasing load.

In the present application, the same oscillatory movement between the squeeze bar and the shoulder obtains during each revolution of the rotor, through the use of simple driving mechanism. The mechanism herein illustrated embodies a pair of elliptical gears. one of which is keyed to a shaft onv which a gear is mounted for driving the gear which rotates the rotor. The driving elliptical gear drives a second elliptical gear, which is attached to the shaft of the squeeze bar and rotates the squeeze bar in timed relation with the rotor, but at a varied speed to produce a movement in squeeze bar and the shoulder of the rotor. This oscillatory movement produces a. similar action as that of the oscillating rotor of the above mentioned application, for producing the squeezing of the clothes after they are tumbled within the rotor during the washing, rinsing and wet drying cycle. I y

The particular tub, rotorfcontrols and other construction follow the teachings disclosed in the A. H Haberstump application, Serial No. 5011.919, filed September 11, 1943, which was assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which will not be herein described in detail.

The main obiects of this invention'are: to provide a rotor and a soueezc bar which are rotated in unison while being relatively oscillated; to drive a rotor continuously at a constant speed and to drive. a squeeze bar along therewith at a varying speed to produce a relative movement in oscillation between the squeeze bar and a shoulder nrniecting within the rotor; to drive a.4 rotor through a pair of gears and employ elliptical Serial No. 320,348, filed February 23, 1940,.

oscillation between the- Serial No. 507,532

(Cl. 68--61l gears for driving a squeeze bar therewith at a different relativespeed to provide a movement of oscillation between the squeeze bar and the rotor while supporting the squeeze bar to permit its deiiection under increasing resistance when loaded; and, in general, to provide a simple and compact mechanism for driving a rotor in rotation while oscillating a squeeze bar relative to a shoulder of the rotor. all of which is simple in construction, positive of operation and economical of manufacture.

Other obiects and features of this invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, with parts breken away and in section, of a washing machine embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a reduced sectional view oi' the washing machine illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4if is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, taken on the line 4--4 thereof;

30 Fig. 5 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4, showing a modified form thereof;v

Fig. 6' is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line G.6 thereof;

35 and,

Fig. '7 is a ture illustrated in Fig. thereof.

The washing machine of the present invention 40 embodies a tub I0 having a removable end wall II secured in position bv a clamping ring I2 for drawing the anges at the. end of the tub I and cover II against a rubber sealing element I3. disrosed between the flanges. The opposite end 45 of the tub is provided with a central opening If! "enclosed byva door I having a sealing element I6 which supports a glass window I1 and seele the door against the edges of the opening. The tub IIl is provided with stirrupf. IB which receive 50 the ends I9 of a frame 2| which supports the unit. All of this constmction has been described and claimed in detail in the latter of the above mentioned conending applications.

The rotor 22 of the present invention is similar 55 to the rotor of the latter above mentioned applibrokenA sectional view of the struc- 3, taken on the line I-l' 3 cation, with the exception that a pair of predeterminedly spaced, inwardly directed shoulders 23 and 24 are provided in the peripheral wall thereof. A squeeze bar 25 is positioned between the shoulders 23 and 24 and is mounted on the end of a shaft 26, which is supported on needle bearings 21, near each of its ends. One of the needle bearings 21 is supported in a sleeve 28, extending from a movable cover 29. The other needle bearing is supported within the hollow shaft 3| which is attached to and drives the rotor 22. The shaft 3| is supported by needle bearings 32 mounted in sleeves 33 and 34. The sleeve 33 projects from the inner wall 35 of an enclosing housing 36 for the driving mechanism. The sleeve 34 is supported on a rib 31 of a unit 56, mounted within the housing,

A gear 38 is provided on the holow shaft 3| as a unit, or secured thereto by conventional means. The teeth of the gear 38 are in mesh with those of a gear 4|, mounted on a shaft 42. supported on needle bearings 43, which are supported by sleeves 44 and 45 projecting from the wall 35 and the cover 29, respectively, of the housing. A key 46 secures the gear to the shaft and also secures a worm wheel 41 and an elliptical gear 48 in fixed relation thereto.

The worm wheel 41 is driven by a worm 49 mounted on a shaft which is driven from a pulley 50, which is secured thereto by a key 53. The teeth of the elliptical gear 48 are in mesh with the teeth of a like elliptical gear 52, which is secured to the shaft 26 by a key 40. The'gear 52 and shaft 26 are locked against relative axial displacement by a spring ring 54. The shaft 5| is supported in a pair of spaced bushings 55 carried by the unit 56. The unit 56 is accurately located within the housing 36 by a pair of doll pins 58 and is secured to the inner wall 35-of the housing by bolts 51.

The housing 36 is secured to the closure element of the tub by a plurality of bolts 59, which extend through the wall 35. The housing 36 is sealed from the interior of the tub by a sealing element 6|. A motor 62 is supported within a bracket 63, suspended from the bottom of the housing 36 by bolts 64. The motor is providedl with a pulley 65, which is Joined to the' pulley 52 by a belt 66 enclosed within a, cover 61, which is secured to the side of the housing and to the motor supporting-bracket 63 by screws 68.

The motor drives the shaft 5| which drives the worm Wheel 41 through the worm 49 for driving the shaft 42 and the gears 4| and 48-in timed relation. The gear 4| drives the gear 38 to rotate the rotor 22 at a constant speed. The elliptical gear 48 drives the elliptical gear 52 for rotating the shaft 26 and revolving the squeeze bar 25 with the rotor, but at a variable speed relative thereto. This variable speed of movement imparts a relative movement of oscillation between the squeeze bar 25 and the shoulders 24 of the rotor. The position of the elliptical gears 48 and 52 are such as to produce the squeeze operation, when the squeeze bar is at its lowermost position, which was found to be the best position for throwing oiT the water ejected from apertures 60 in the shoulders 24, during the drying cycle. The clothes are released from between the shoulder and squeeze bar, when they are separated upon reaching the top position, to permit the proper tumbling and freeing of the various clothes being washed, rinsed or dried.

It is within the purview of the present invention to produce the squeezing operation against pieces of both of the shoulders, permitting the relative oscillatory movement between the two shoulders and the squeeze bar to be such as to have the squeeze bar approach one shoulder during one maximum position of the relative oscillatory movement and to approach the other shoulder during the opposite maximum movement, so that the squeezing of the clothes will occur at two different points during each rotation of the rotor. In this arrangement, it might be advantageous to have the squeezing occur at the sides of the tub rather than at the bottom and top, in view of the fact that the clothes'would fall from the top periphery of the machine during the tumbling operation. When a single shoulder is employed, against which the clothes are squeezed, it is desirable that the squeezing operation occur near the bottom of the tub.

The washing operation, embodying the washing, rinsing and wet drying cycle, is preferably performed through an entirely automatic cycle. This occurs through the operation of various electric control devices connected to a motor `driven timing element, as illustrated in the latter of the above mentioned copending applications.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the shaft 26 has the central portion machined in such manner as to provide individual spring elements 1|, which produce the elastic resistance to the squeeze bar referred to above. Fig. 5 shows a similar construction wherein a greater number of spring elements 12 are ,provided to the shaft by the machining operation. These are of smaller cross section and provide greater deflection.

It is to be understood that other types of spring means may be provided for loading the shaft 26 Aagainst resistance of movement by one of the shoulders 23, or 24, or both, when squeezing clothes lby the relative approach of the squeeze bar thereto. The spring means provided in the manner herein illustrated produce the saine force against either of the shoulders as one end of the shaft resists movement relative to the other in either clockwise or counterclockwise movement with the same force. The provision of the spring bars 1| and 12 interferes in no manner with the driving power of the shaft while providing the elastic resistance necessary to the successful operation of the squeeze bar. It will be noted in Figs. 3 and 6 that the gears vided with an aperture 13 to reduce the off-center weight of the gears. The present construction has the advantage of providing continuous rotating movement to the rotor and squeeze bar, while producing a movement in oscillation therebetween. The rotor will function somewhat as a iiy wheel for building up inertia, which is expended during the squeezing operation to thereby reduce the maximum input power required for operating the machine. The operation of the machine in producing a washing cycle is the same as that of the machines in the herein mentioned copending applications, including the squeezing of the clothes by the squeeze bar against one, or a pair of, inwardly projecting shoulders ofthe rotor.

What is claimed is:

l. In a washing machine, a stationary tub, a rotor in said tub having a peripheral wall, a. squeeze bar in said rotor extending from said peripheral wall an amount less than one-half of the radius of said rotor, an. offset portion in the peripheral wall of said rotor forming a shoulder disposed in the path of movement of said squeeze bar, means for driving said rotor in rotation and 48 and 52 are profor carrying the squeeze bar with the rotor, means for relatively moving said squeeze bar and rotor for squeezing clothes between said bar and shoulder during each revolution of said rotor, and pressure applying means which permits said relative movement to be interrupted while applying a pressure to clothes during the squeezing operation.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a rotor in said tub having a peripheral wall, a squeeze bar in said rotor having a squeeze portion disposed adjacent tothe peripheral wall of said rotor and extending toward the'axis of the rotor but spaced therefrom substantially one-half the radius of the rotor, a shoulder projecting from the peripheral wall of the rotor in the path of movement of said squeeze bar portion and spaced from said axis substantially the same amount as said shoulder, means for driving said rotor in rotation and carrying said squeeze bar therewith. and means in said driving means for relatively moving said squeeze bar and rotor for squeezing clothes between said squeeze bar portion and shoulder.

3. In a washing machine. a stationary tub, a cylindrical rotor in said tub, a driving shaft for said rotor disposed concentrically with the peripheral wall of said rotor, a squeeze bar within said rotor having a squeeze portion movable in an arcuate path along the peripheral wall of said rotor and an arm extending therefrom to the rotor axis, a shaft within said driving shaft engaging said arm for supporting said squeeze bar, a shoulder projecting from the peripheral wall of the rotor in the path of movement of said squeeze portion of the squeeze bar, and means for driving said shafts for operating said rotor in rotation and for carrying said squeeze bar therewith, said driving means being so arranged as to relatively move said squeeze bar and rotor for squeezing clothes between said squeeze bar portion and said shoulder during each revolution of said rotor.

4. In a washing machine, a cylindrical stationary tub having a peripheral wall and a pair of end walls, one of said end walls having an opening enclosed by a door, a bearing mounted i in said other end wall, means for supporting said tub, a hollow shaft in said bearing, a rotor in said tub supported on said hollow shaft and having a peripheral wall, a shoulder extending inwardly from the peripheral wall of the rotor a distance less than one-half of the radius of said rotor for permitting the fabrics being washed to tumble thereover, a squeeze bai' having a squeeze portion engageable with said shoulder and an arm portion extending to the axis of the rotor, a stub shaft in said hollow shaft engaging said arm portion and supporting said squeeze bar portion for movement along said rotor peripheral wall, and driving mechanism connected to said two shafts for rotating said shafts simultaneously and variably for continuously revolving the rotor and squeeze bar about the axisof the tub while relatively oscillating said squeeze bar and rotor for periodically squeezing fabrics between said squeeze bar portion and shoulder while other of the fabrics are free to tumble thereacross.

5. In a washing machine, a cylindrical tub having a peripheral wall and a pair of end walls one of which has an opening enclosed by a door,v a

Vbearing mounted in the other end Wall, means for supporting said tub, a, hollow shaft in said bearing, a rotor having a. peripheral wall supported in said tub on said hollow shaft, a shoulder extending inwardly from the peripheral wall of said rotor an amount sufcient to permit the fabrics being washed to tumble thereover and across the axis of said tub, a squeeze bar having a squeeze portion engageable with said shoulder and extending from the peripheral wall an amount substantially equal to the extent of the shoulder therefrom, said squeeze bar having anarm portion Aextending to the axis of said hollow shaft, a stub shaft in said hollow shaft engaging said arm portion and supporting said squeeze portion for movement along said peripheral wall, and driving mechanism connected to said two shafts for rotating said shafts simultaneously and variably for continuously revolving the rotor and squeeze bar about the axis of the tub while relatively oscillating said squeeze bar and rotor for periodically squeezing fabrics between said squeeze bar portion'and shoulder while other of the fabrics are free to tumble thereacross.

6. In a washing machine, a cylindrical tub having a peripheral wall and a pair of end walls. a bearing in at least one of said end walls, means `i'or' supporting said tub. a hollow shaft in said bearing, a rotor having a peripheral wall supported in said tub on said hollow shaft, a shoulder extending inwardly from the peripheral wall of said rotor an amount sufficient to permit the fabrics being Washed to tumble thereover and across the axis of said tub, a squeeze bar having a squeeze portion engageable with said shoulder and extending from the peripheral wall an amount substantially equal to the extent of the shoulder therefrom, said squeeze bar having at least one arm portion extending to the axis of said hollow shaft, a stub shaft in said hollow shaft engaging said arm portion and supporting said squeeze portion for movement along said peripheral wall, and driving mechanism connected to said two shafts for rotating said shafts simultaneously and variably for continuously revolving the rotor and squeeze bar about the axis of the tub while relatively oscillating said squeeze bar and rotor for periodically squeezing fabrics betweenl said squeeze bar portion and shoulder while other of the fabrics are free to tumble thereacross.

'7. In a washing-machine, a tub, a rotor having an inwardly directed shoulder, a hollow shaft supporting said rotor for rotation within the tub, a squeeze bar in said rotor, a shaft mounted within said hollow shaft and supporting said squeeze bar, a driving mechanism embodying a spur gear for driving the rotor in rotation, and means embodying eccentrically mounted vgears for driving said squeeze bar shaft at a variable speed to produce relative movement between said shoulder and said bar as the rotor and squeeze bar revolve about the tub axis.

8. Ina washing machine, a tub, a rotor provided with a pair of spaced inwardly directed shoulders, a hollow shaft supporting said rotor for rotation within said tub. a squeeze bar in said rotor, a shaft mounted Within said hollow shaft and supporting said squeeze bar, a, driving mechanism embodying a spur gear for driving the rotor in rotation, and means embodying eccentrically mounted gears for driving said squeeze bar shaft' at a variable speed to produce relative oscillation between said shoulders and said bar.

9. In a washing machine, a stationary tub, a cylindrical rotor in saidtub, a driving shaft for said rotor disposed concentrically with the peripheral wall of said rotorfa squeeze b ar within said rotor having a squeeze portion movable in an arcuate path along the peripheral wall of said rotor and an arm portion extending to the rotor 7 axis, a shaft within said driving shaft engaging said arm for supporting said squeeze bar, a shoulder projecting from the peripheral wall of the rotor an amount less than one-half the radius of said rotor to be disposed in the path of move- 5 ment of said squeeze portion of the squeeze bar, means for driving said shafts in rotation for operatingsaid rotor in rotation and for` carrying said squeeze bar therewith, said driving means being so arranged as to relatively move said squeeze l0 bar and rotor for squeezing clothes between said squeeze bar portion and said shoulder during each revolution of,` said rotor, and pressure applying means in said driving means for permitting variation in the relative movement between said rotor and squeeze bar when applying a. predetermined pressure between said squeeze bar portion and the clothes being squeezed against said shoulder.

GUNNAR E. EHRLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of .this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 49,229 Champlin Aug. 8, 1865 914,213 Whyte et al. Mar. 2, 1909 1,304,470 Gibbins May 20, 1919 1,315,782 Leggett Sept. 9, 1919` 1,052,911 Gibbins Feb. 11, 1913 1,135,584 Neubner Apr. 13, 1915 1,552,378 Austin Sept. 1, 1925 2,354,208 Haberstump July 25, 1944 

